On June 4, 2012, 31 year old, Victor Ortega was executed by San Diego Police Officer Jonathan McCarthy. According to witnesses Victor was lying on the ground and in compliance with the officers’ demands.

Initially, McCarthy claimed he shot Victor because his back-up gun fell from its holster and Victor reached for it. He later claimed he shot Victor because he was “too tired to continue with the arrest”. A witness heard the officer shouting “Get on the ground!” at Victor and Victor responding, “Are you kidding me?” right before he was shot. Victor was already on the ground face down with both arms cuffed before he was shot, a police lieutenant later admitted.

The Ortega family filed a federal lawsuit claiming Ortega’s civil rights were violated, and that the officer had no reason to pull the trigger.

U.S. District Judge has recently noted inconsistencies in some of the statements made by McCarthy, who claimed Victor tried to take away his service weapon. There is a further inconsistency around Officer McCarthy’s use of a non-lethal Taser and the facts leading up to the struggle between McCarthy and Ortega.

The mission of UAPTSD's mobilizations is to keep alive the county list of recorded people killed by law enforcement agents from 1980 to the present. Through grassroots efforts, over 200 local cases were documented.

Although just the tip of the iceberg, these 200+ LOCAL cases are evidence of a horrifying national epidemic of police terror. The victims of police violence were part of our society, but rarely are their lives or names publicized, or the real circumstances surrounding their deaths investigated and made known. The Stolen Lives Project aims to restore some dignity to the lives lost. Though their lives have been stolen from us, we will not allow them to be forgotten.

Remember to connect what's happening at a national level is also happening in San Diego, The same issues that were exposed in Ferguson are in San Diego. The system of power, White Supremacy, is well and alive in San Diego, hurting marginalized communities. Let's make sure we seek justice for them. Let's end the occupation of our communities by Police.

Free Our Black Men March and Prayer Vigil: Make a Stand Against Penal Code 182.5

Join the Coalition Against Penal Code 182.5 as we stage a march and prayer vigil in support of the the families that are affected by penal code 182.5. Join Aaron Harvey and Brandon Duncan as they continue to fight for their freedom. Let's send a clear message to the District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis that we will not accept her racist attempt to criminalize our neighborhoods with this new tool for mass incarceration. Let us stand up and let our presence be felt throughout the entire city of San Diego. We would like to have 500+ strong at this event, let's get to work.

Please read the story below for details of Aaron Harvey's story and a small glimpse of what these other 33 black men are facing. Also attached is the press release regarding the call to action by the coalition.

Catherine (Cat) Mendonça401-580-7791www.facebook.com/mulhercomplexaAf3irm San Diego; an anti-imperialist, transnational feminist women’s organization, evolving from the organization formerly known as GABNet, and 20 years of women’s organizing, activism, and struggle. af3irm.orgUnited Against Police Terror; a grassroots organization, dedicated to educating and organizing the community to fight back against police terror in SD. uaptsd.orgBlack and Pink - San Diego; an organization supporting LGBTQ prisoners impacted by the prison industrial complex. blackandpink.orga member of San Diego No More Prisons Coalition and Californians United for a Responsible Budget (CURB)